Back to results
US 8,786,747 B2Granted
Imaging apparatus and camera
AssigneeSony Corporation
InventorHiroki Sato
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An imaging apparatus including a pixel, a current source, and a signal processing circuit. The pixel outputs signal charge, obtained by imaging, as a pixel signal. The current source is connected to a transmission path for the pixel signal and has a variable current. The signal processing circuit performs signal processing on a signal depending on an output signal to the transmission path and performs control so that a current of the current source is changed in accordance with the result of signal processing.
Claims13
A camera, comprising:
- an imaging apparatus;
- an optical system that forms a subject image on the imaging apparatus, wherein the imaging apparatus includes:
- a pixel that outputs signal charge as a pixel signal to a transmission path, the signal charge being obtained by imaging;
- a current source connected to the transmission path for the pixel signal, the current source having a variable current;
- and
- a signal processing circuit that performs signal processing on the pixel signal output to the transmission path and performs control so that a current of the current source is changed in accordance with a result of the signal processing,
- wherein,
- the signal processing circuit comprises:
- an integrator that integrates the pixel signal transmitted through the transmission path;
- a quantizer that quantizes an output signal of the integrator;
- and
- a selector that changes a current of the current source in accordance with a result of quantization by the quantizer;
- a drive circuit;
- and
- an image processor.
12 more elements
A camera, comprising:
- an imaging apparatus;
- an optical system that forms a subject image on the imaging apparatus, wherein the imaging apparatus includes:
- a pixel that outputs signal charge as a pixel signal to a transmission path, the signal charge being obtained by imaging;
- a current source connected to the transmission path for the pixel signal, the current source having a variable current;
- and
- a signal processing circuit, having an integrator, a quantizer, and a selector, that performs signal processing on the pixel signal output to the transmission path and performs control so that a current of the current source is changed in accordance with a result of the signal processing;
- a drive circuit;
- and
- an image processor.
6 more elements
A camera, comprising:
- an imaging apparatus;
- an optical system that forms a subject image on the imaging apparatus, wherein the imaging apparatus includes:
- a pixel array including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, each pixel outputting signal charge as a pixel signal to a transmission path, the signal charge being obtained by imaging;
- and
- a plurality of pixel signal processing units arranged for respective columns of the pixel array,
- wherein,
- each pixel signal processing unit includes (a) a current source connected to the transmission path for the pixel signal, the current source having a variable current and (b) a signal processing circuit that performs signal processing on the pixel signal output to the transmission path and performs control so that a current of the current source is changed in accordance with a result of the signal processing, and
- the signal processing circuit comprises (a) an integrator that integrates the pixel signal transmitted through the transmission path, (b) a quantizer that quantizes an output signal of the integrator and (c) a selector that changes a current of the current source in accordance with a result of quantization by the quantizer;
- a drive circuit;
- and
- an image processor.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.